Toshiba's US consumer products division has announced that the company is to release two HD DVD high-definition video disc players for the US market in March. These early editions, however, may require significant upgrades over the next several months to adapt to emerging standards. Sounds like Toshiba is desperate to get some products out, whether they are ready or not.

A promotional brochure for Toshiba's HD-XA1, released today, characterizes HD DVD as having already won the battle with Blu-ray, by touting its own format as, "Officially recognized by the DVD Forum as the next high-capacity HD disc." The brochure depicts simulated frames of iHD-endowed movies, with superimposed menus and commentary feeds, and one example which appears to depict the capability of shopping via Internet for items which happen to be included in a clip from a home movie. The promotion includes the very skillfully worded catch-phrase, "The potential is there," which can certainly be taken literally.